Elastic support for vehicles.



No. 720,966. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

A. PULBROOK.

ELASTIC SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

AYPLIOLTIOIPILBD D30. 26. 1902.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

ANTHONY PULBROOK, OF HAMMERSMITH, LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELASTIC SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,966, dated February17, 1903.

Application filed December 26, 1902. Serial No- 136,625. (No model-l To(all whom, it flung concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTHONY PULBROOK, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in or Connected with Elastic Supports to Vehicles;and'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention consistsin improved elastic devices forsupportiug thebodies of vehicles of every description and insulating the same fromshock or vibration.

When a body suspended from or resting on a spring is free to rise orfall, except so far as its motion is checked by the strength orelasticity of the spring, any jolt tends to raise or lower the body tothe limit allowed by the elasticity of the spring, and excessive joltingis liable to make the body rise and fall too much for safety or comfort.The improved method I adopt is to hang or support the body or the bodyand something connected therewith or secured thereto so that themovements of the body actuate two oppositelyacting springs or sets ofsprings or elastic cushions of suitable material and construction insuch a manner as will cause one spring or set of springs or the likewhen acting in compression to be counteracted. by the other set actingin tension, and vice versa. I I may make the pressure exerted by thesprings ad justable by any suitable means. Excessive motion will thus beprevented by one spring or the like after a certain amount of motion hastaken place, being checked by the action of the other, and the motion ofthe body in either direction will be confined in extent without losingthe advantages of the elasticity of its supports.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a transverse sectional view, and Fig. 2 is a similar view ofa slightly-modified form.

A is the axle; B, the body portion of the vehicle-above the axle; B b,the like below the axle; O, the wheels; 1), air-tight compartmentscontaining a compressible fluid; E, airtight compartments containing airat or befixed in suitable positions. may also be fixed.

low atmospheric pressure; F, pliable mate rial, such as canvas, whichmay form insertion restraining the expansion or collapsing of thecompartments D and E or parts thereof G, bags orbladders of air-tightmaterial, such as india-rubber;placed inside the compartmentsl) andoutside or attached to canvas F of E. It will be understood thatnon-return valves (not shown in the drawings) are Safety valves H and Hare plates secu red to the top and bottom, respectively, of compartmentE, so

that on their being drawn apart the contained air in the compartment isattenuated; 1, nuts and bolts securing the top plate H, bladder need notbe fastened, being held in place by V the canvas.

J represents nuts and bolts securing the other side of compartment D,Fig. 1, in like manner, so that it can be opened for examination; K,nuts and bolts securing platforms N and O, or either, to underframe;M,plates or bars to bridge over and strengthen intervals of spacebetween each nut and bolt; N, platform or frame secured to theundertrame as support for air-compartments D and E; 0, Fig. 1, platformor frame secured to the under side of the axle; P, more or less rigidmaterial to prevent the atmospheric pressure forcing the canvas-inwardon attenuation of the air in air-tight chambers E. They are fitted withhinges or connected by pliable material to allow them to straighten.

S, Fig. 1, represents vertical sides or rods fixed to the undercarriage; T, Fig. 2, diagonal plates or sides of air-compartmentscapable of movement on hinges or the like; Y, Fig. 2, vertical sides orplates to prevent lateral expansion of air-compartment Z, hinges inconnection with diagonal plates T; a, Fig. 2, ball-race to preventfriction; b, projection to retain balls 0. in place.

Fig. 1 illustrates the body of a vehicle divided into two parts, onepart, 13, above the axle, and the other, B 1), below. Each part issecured from vibration by counteracting air-cushions, one setrepresented by the letters D, operating by supporting the body oncompressed air, and the other represented by the cushions E, operatingin the converse direction by attenuated air. These latter cushions E aresecured both to the body and to the under carriage in such a. manner aswill cause the air inclosed in them to be attenuated below that of theouter atmosphere by any increase in the distance between the bottom ofthe body and the top of the under carriage. It is obvious that thedivision of the body into parts is one for convenience only. I may haveone part only. When using more than one part, one part can be used forpasssengers and the other or others for goods, and in the case ofmotor-cars for machinery. It is equally obvious that I may obtain thesame object by means of separate horizontal platforms operated on bycushions.

Fig. 2 illustrates the supporting of the body on rigid material T,secured by means of hinges to the under carriage insuch a manner as willallow of the material T, forming one side of a wedge, to compress aircontained in cushions D, preferably wedge-shaped, placed between themovable arm T and a fixed side Y. To prevent jamming of the body withthe arm T, I may use ball-races on both sides of the body between thetwo parts, as shown at one side only of the figure at a. I may retaintheballs in place by a projection of less height than that of the balls,so that on any rising of the body taking place which would increase thespace between the top of the projection from the arm T and the body,whereby the balls might escape, it will be understood that theair-compartment D, expanding against the arm T, will cause the latter towork on its hinges and close up the space. I may connect the body withthe under carriage by restraining-bands to prevent the body leaving theunder carriage.

I wish it to be understood that I do not use the expression springs inrelation to metallic springs, which I am aware have been used in acounteracting manner in many ways.

I claim- 1. In a vehicle, the combination with compressed-air cushionssupporting the body of said vehicle, of a second set of air-cushionshaving the air contained therein, at or below atmospheric pressure andtop and bottom plates within said second air-cushions, said plates beingsecured respectively to the body and the frame of said vehicle,substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle the combination of a wedgeshaped compressed-air cushionD, a movable hinged arm T and a fixed part Y for the purpose ofsupporting the body part of the vehicle, substantially as described.

3. In a vehicle, the combination with compressed-air cushions supportingthe body of said vehicle, of other cushions, containing air at or belowatmospheric pressure, and con-. sisting of an inner casing of softrubber, an outer casing of stifi material and top and bottom plateswithin said inner casing and secured respectively to the body and to theframe of said vehicle, substantially as described.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with the frame having vertical sides,downwardly-extending plates pivotally secured to said sides andair-cushions secured between said sides and said plates, of a bodyhaving beveled corners adapted to rest on said plates, ballbearingsbetween said body and said plates and air-cushions secured to said bodyand to said frame, the air in said cushions being at or belowatmospheric pressure, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

ANTHONY PULBROOK.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN EDWARD GUNYoN, WILLIAM ANDERSON SMITH.

